New and used cars safety rating

Largely unchanged for 2012, the Jetta Sedan is a compact car powered by a standard 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder engine that produces 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. For the "green" driver an optional 2.0-liter TDI® diesel engine that produces 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque is also available. Both engines can be paired with an optional 6-speed automatic transmission, however the standard engine comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission while the diesel engine comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. Fuel mileage for the standard engine is an EPA estimated 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway while the diesel engine gets a boost to an EPA estimated 30 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. Features include panoramic sunroof, 8-speaker sound system, touch-screen sound system, multi-function steering wheel and touch-screen navigation. Safety is comprised of crash optimized front end, pinch-protection power windows, Intelligent Crash Response, electronic stability control, and anti-slip regulation. The Jetta SportWagen is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.

In 2011, Volkswagen revised the Jetta's packaging to better compete with the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla. Previously, price kept it just out of reach of potential buyers of the competition, but with an attractive redesign, Volkswagen also reconsidered options packaging and the Jetta's price level. Now, buyers can get a premium German sedan at an entry-level price, with fit and finish similar to that on cars that cost two and three times as much.